Outdoor cooking station with warming chamber and method thereof

ABSTRACT

An outdoor cooking station configured to keep cooked food warm within a warming chamber of the cooking station. The cooking station includes a main body with frame components and panels, the panels coupled to the frame components so as to extend and define the warming chamber, the warming chamber positioned below heating elements supported by the main body. The warming chamber is fixedly positioned relative to the heating elements. The main body includes a door pivotably coupled to the main body and positioned along a front side of the main body, the door pivotably moveable between an open position and a closed position. With this arrangement, the door facilitates access to the warming chamber to place cooked food therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/669,500, filed May 10, 2018, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to outdoor type cooking stationsand, more specifically, the present invention relates to maintainingcooked food in a warm state with a warming chamber integrated with anoutdoor type cooking station.

BACKGROUND

Barbequing has become a popular and pervasive tradition in much of theworld. A barbeque grill is a device for cooking food by applying heatdirectly below a grill. There are several varieties of grills but mostfall into one of two categories, either gas fueled or charcoal. Gasfueled grills typically use propane or natural gas as a fuel source,with the gas flame either cooking the food directly or heating grillingelements which in turn radiate the heat necessary to cook the food.Grilling has become a popular method of cooking food due to the uniqueflavors and texture imparted to the food during the grilling process.

A griddle is a cooking device consisting of a broad flat surface thatcan be heated using a variety of means and is used in both residentialand commercial applications for a variety of cooking operations. Thegriddle is most commonly a flat metal plate composed of cast or wroughtiron, aluminum or carbon steel. Griddles are commonly heated directly orindirectly by open flame or electrical elements. Using a griddle placeddirectly on a barbeque grill or over flame burners has also becomepopular when cooking foods not as well suited for cooking directly on agrill over an open flame.

Often large quantities of food are prepared outdoors with a griddle orgrill type barbequing station. At such times, difficulties arise withkeeping the already cooked food in a warm state. Barbequing stationswith pivotably attached hoods often include one or more racks that, whenthe hood is opened, the racks are positioned above and rearward of thecooking surface and, when the hood is closed, the racks typically moveabove the cooking surface and within the hood. As food is being cooked,one will typically place the already cooked food on the racks whilecontinuing to cook on the cooking surface. However, with the hood open,the rack's position relative to the cooking surface typically will notkeep the food sufficiently warm. Rather, to keep the food warm, one mustclose the hood of the barbequing station, which ends up interrupting thecooking process. Further, when the hood is closed, the temperaturequickly rises to undesirable temperatures for the food being cooked onthe grill or griddle as well as the already cooked food on the rack,often resulting in burning the food on the rack and sometimes causingthe food to become dry. As such, it would be advantageous to have theability to keep already cooked food warm without interrupting thecooking process and without causing the cooking temperature of thecooking station to reach undesirable cooking temperatures.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to various embodiments of an outdoorcooking station for cooking food and maintaining cooked food in a warmedstate. In one embodiment, the outdoor cooking station includes a mainbody with frame components and panels, the panels coupled to the framecomponents so as to extend and define a warming chamber. The warmingchamber is positioned directly below heating elements supported by themain body, the heating elements positioned below a cooking surfaceconfigured to be associated with the main body. Further, the warmingchamber is fixedly positioned relative to the heating elements. The mainbody includes a door pivotably coupled to the main body and ispositioned along a front side of the main body. With this arrangement,the door is pivotably moveable between an open position and a closedposition such that, in the open position, the door exposes an openingdefined in the front side of the main body to facilitate access to thewarming chamber to place the cooked food therein.

In another embodiment, the main body includes a baffle extending todefine an upper side panel and a front facing vent, the upper side panelpositioned to at least partially define an upper side of the warmingchamber, the front facing vent having openings defined therein andpositioned above the door. In another embodiment, the main body includesa baffle extending with an upper side panel and a front facing vent, thefront facing vent extending perpendicular relative to the upper sidepanel, the front facing vent positioned above the door with openingsdefined therein and the upper side panel partially defining the warmingchamber.

In another embodiment, the door pivots adjacent a bottom edge of theopening defined in the front side of the main body. In anotherembodiment, the door is coupled to a hinge mechanism with a springcoupled thereto. In still another embodiment, the warming chamberincludes a removable rack, the removable rack suspended over oppositelypositioned ledges within the warming chamber.

In another embodiment, the warming chamber is at least partially definedby a bottom panel, a first panel, a second panel, and a rear panel, thefirst panel being positioned opposite the second panel, the rear panelbeing positioned opposite the door in the closed position, the warmingchamber being at least partially open and exposed to the heatingelements positioned above the warming chamber. In a further embodiment,the warming chamber includes one or more inside panels extendinglaterally relative to the rear panel, the one or more inside panelsdefining one or more vents therein to facilitate convection heat andradiation heat from the heating elements to heat the warming chamber. Inanother further embodiment, the warming chamber includes one or moreinside panels extending laterally relative to the rear panel, the one ormore inside panels extending to define an opening to facilitateconvection and radiation heat from the heating elements to heat thewarming chamber.

In another embodiment, the cooking surface includes a planar griddlesurface. In yet another embodiment, the main body includes at least twolegs with caster wheels coupled thereto.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, anoutdoor cooking station is provided. The outdoor cooking stationincludes a main body with frame components and panels, the panelscoupled to the frame components so as to extend and define an upperchamber region and a lower chamber region. The upper chamber regionincludes multiple heating elements supported by the main body anddisposed below an upper edge of the main body. The upper edge extendsadjacent a cooking surface configured to be associated with the mainbody. The lower chamber region is fixedly positioned relative to theupper chamber region and disposed directly below the upper chamberregion and the heating elements. The panels of the lower chamber regionextend to define a bottom panel, a rear panel, a first panel and asecond panel, the first panel being positioned opposite the secondpanel, the rear panel being positioned opposite a door pivotably coupledto the main body. The door is pivotably moveable to an open position tofacilitate access to the lower chamber region.

In another embodiment, the main body includes a front facing vent panelwith openings defined therein, the front facing vent panel positioneddirectly above the door. In another embodiment, the main body includes abaffle extending with an upper side panel and a front facing vent, thefront facing vent extending perpendicular relative to the upper sidepanel, the front facing vent positioned above the door with openingsdefined therein and the upper side panel at least partially defining thewarming chamber.

In another embodiment, the door is coupled to a hinge mechanism with aspring coupled thereto such that the door is biased to a closedposition. In another embodiment, the lower chamber region includes arack suspendably positioned between the first and second panels.

In another embodiment, the upper chamber region is separated from thelower chamber region with one or more inside panels, the one or moreinside panels defining one or more vents therein to facilitateconvection and radiation heat from the heating elements to heat thelower chamber region. In still another embodiment, the upper chamberregion is separated from the lower chamber region with one or moreinside panels, the one or more inside panels extending to define anopening along an edge of the one or more inside panels, the openingconfigured to supply heat to the lower chamber region from the heatingelements. In another embodiment, the cooking surface includes a planargriddle surface.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a methodfor warming cooked food is provided. The method includes the steps of:providing an outdoor cooking station with a main body with framecomponents and panels, the panels coupled to the frame components so asto extend and define a warming chamber, the warming chamber positionedbelow heating elements supported by the main body, the heating elementspositioned below a cooking surface configured to be associated with themain body, the warming chamber fixedly positioned relative to theheating elements, the main body including a door pivotably coupled tothe main body and positioned along a front side of the main body, thedoor pivotably moveable between an open position and a closed positionsuch that, in the open position, the door exposes an opening defined inthe front side of the main body to facilitate access to the warmingchamber to place the cooked food therein; heating the cooking surfacewith the heating elements for cooking food on the cooking surface;pivotably opening the door so as to expose an opening defined in thefront side of the main body to facilitate access to the warming chamber;placing cooked food through the opening and within the warming chamber;and pivotably closing the door to the closed position to keep the cookedfood warm within the warming chamber.

In another embodiment, the method further includes the step offacilitating air flow between the front side of the main body and theheating elements through a front facing vent positioned above the door.In another embodiment, the providing step includes providing a baffle toat least partially define an upper side of the warming chamber such thatthe baffle extends with a front facing vent positioned directly abovethe door.

In another embodiment, the method step of providing includes providingthe door with a hinge and spring arrangement so that the door is biasedtoward the closed position. In another embodiment, the method step ofproviding includes providing the warming chamber with a removable rackpositioned between the first and second panels. In another embodiment,the method step of heating includes supplying heat to the warmingchamber with convection and radiation heat from the heating elements. Instill another embodiment, the providing step includes providing one ormore inside panels extending to define a separation between the heatingelements and the warming chamber such that the one or more inside panelsdefine one or more openings to facilitate supplying heat from theheating elements to the warming chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed description and upon reference tothe drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a right perspective view of an outdoor cooking station with agriddle member positionable over the cooking station, depicting a doorin an open position to expose a warming chamber integrated within thecooking station, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left perspective view of the outdoor cooking station,depicting the door in a closed position, according to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the outdoor cooking station withoutthe griddle member, depicting heating elements positioned within a mainbody of the outdoor cooking station, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the cooking station, according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along section A-A of FIG. 4 ofthe main body of the outdoor cooking station, depicting an upper chamberregion above a lower chamber region of a main chamber, according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective bottom view of the outdoor cooking station withthe door in the open position, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the outdoor cooking station, according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the outdoor cooking station with the door inthe open position, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial view of the door, according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an outdoorcooking station with a griddle member positioned thereon, depicting theoutdoor cooking station having a warming chamber with a door in theclosed position, according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the outdoor cooking station of FIG. 10, depicting the door of the warming chamber in the open position,according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective bottom view of the outdoor cooking station ofFIG. 10 , depicting a baffle positioned within the main body of thecooking station, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line A-A of FIG.10 , according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , an outdoor cooking station 10 with awarming chamber 12, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, is provided. The outdoor cooking station 10 may be sized andconfigured to be employed with a griddle member 14 and/or a grill typecooking surface or any other suitable cooking member or cooking surfacefor cooking food on the outdoor cooking station 10. The warming chamber12 may be integrated with a region or chamber holding heating elements16 (FIG. 3 ) of the cooking station 10 for cooking food. Further, thewarming chamber 12 may be accessed with a door 18 that may be movedbetween an open position (FIG. 1 ) and a closed position (FIG. 2 ). Inthis manner, upon cooking food with the outdoor cooking station 10, thedoor 18 may be opened for placing cooked food within the warming chamber12 and then moved to the closed position to maintain the heat within thewarming chamber 12 and within the cooked food.

The outdoor cooking station 10 may include a main body 20 with variousframe components 22 and panels 24 coupled to the frame components 22.The main body 20 may extend to define a front side 26, a rear side 28, atop side 30, a bottom side 32, a first side 34 and a second side 36. Thefirst side 34 may be oppositely positioned relative to the second side36 and may also be referenced as respective left and right sides.Similarly, the front side 26 may be oppositely positioned relative tothe rear side 28, and the bottom side 32 may be oppositely positionedrelative to the top side 34. Each of the front side 26, rear side 28,bottom side 32, and first and second sides 34, 36 may include one ormore of the panels 24 and the frame components 22 that extend tosurround and define the warming chamber 12 and heating elements 16 ofthe cooking station 10. The various frame components 22 may be coupledtogether to extend horizontally and vertically, as known by one in theart, to form the main body 20 with the panels 24 secured to the framecomponents 22, as previously set forth. Similarly, the panels 24 mayextend horizontally between first and second sides 34, 36 and front andrear sides 26, 28 of the main body 20 as well as extend verticallybetween a lower end 38 or lower portion and an upper edge 40 of the mainbody 20.

In another embodiment, the frame components 22 may extend downward fromthe main body 20 to exhibit legs 42 of the main body 20 with variouscross-members 44 between the legs 42. Such various cross-members 44 mayextend and be secured along the lower end 38 of the main body 20 and,for example, extend adjacent ends 46 of the legs 42 to stabilize thestructure of the outdoor cooking station 10. Further, the cookingstation 10 may include caster wheels 48 securable to the ends 46 of thelegs 42 to facilitate portability of the outdoor cooking station 10. Assuch, the outdoor cooking station 10 may be readily moveable withminimal effort so that the cooking station 10 is portable. Othercomponents of the cooking station 10 may include one or more handles 50coupled to one of the first and second sides 34, 36 of the main body 20.Further, the cooking station 10 may include a first side shelf 52 and asecond side shelf 54 coupled to the first side 34 and second side 36 ofthe main body 20, respectively. In addition, the cooking station 10 mayinclude a propane tank holder 56 coupled to one or more of thecross-members 44, the propane tank holder 56 configured to mount apropane tank (not shown) thereto.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , the top side 30 of the main body 20may include the upper edge 40 extending with some of the framecomponents 22 in a rectangular configuration so as to exhibit arectangular periphery. The rectangular periphery of the upper edge 40may also define a square periphery. The upper edge 40 may be disposedadjacent a cooking surface 60, such as the flat planar surface of thegriddle member 14 associated therewith or any other type of cookingsurface 60, such as a grill type cooking surface. The upper edge 40 maybe sized and configured to receive, for example, small legs 62 of agriddle member 14 so that the upper edge 40 may support and stabilizethe griddle member 14 thereon. In this manner, the upper edge 40 of themain body 20 and/or the cooking station 10 may be sized and configuredto receive the griddle member 14. Further, in another embodiment, thecooking station 10 may include a hood (not shown) associated therewiththat may be pivotably coupled to the rear side 28 of the main body 20 tobe closeable over the upper edge 40 and over the cooking surface 60.Such hood may also be removable from the cooking station 10 withoutbeing pivotably coupled thereto.

As previously set forth, the front side 26 of the main body 20 mayinclude the door 18 for accessing the warming chamber 12. Further, thefront side 26 of the main body 20 may include multiple burner controlvalves 64 or knobs positioned over a front panel 66. Each of the burnercontrol valves 64 or knobs may be associated with a heating element 16or flame burners. The heating elements 16 may extend between the frontside 26 and rear side 28 of the main body 20 below the upper edge 40 ofthe main body 20 such that the heating elements 16 may be secured toframe components 22 extending within and adjacently along the front andrear sides 26, 28 of the main body 20. Each of the heating elements 16may hold structure for feeding pressurized fuel therethrough, such aspropane gas or natural gas, and controlled with burner control valves 64or knobs. In addition, the front panel 66 may include an ignitor switch68 that may be depressed to provide a spark to ignite the gas fueledheating elements 16. The cooking station 10 may include typicalcomponents to facilitate igniting the heating elements 16 and heatingthe cooking surface 60 (FIG. 1 ) associated with the cooking station 10,such as various valves, tubing, manifold, gas couplings, fasteners, andany other components, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Now with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 , the warming chamber 12 of theoutdoor cooking station 10 will now be described. As previously setforth, the main body 20 of the outdoor cooking station 10 may includethe panels 24 extending over the frame components 22 to define thewarming chamber 12. Such panels 24 may be coupled to the framecomponents 22 to define a main chamber 70 extending to define a lowerchamber region 72 and an upper chamber region 74, the lower chamberregion 72 being directly below the upper chamber region 74, each chambergenerally shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5 . The upper chamber region 74may include the heating elements 16 extending across the upper chamberregion 74, such as between the front and rear sides 26, 28 of the mainbody 20. The lower chamber region 72 and/or the main chamber 70 may bereferenced as the before described warming chamber 12. Further, thelower chamber region 72 or warming chamber 12 may be fixed relative tothe heating elements 16 such that the lower chamber region 72 or warmingchamber 12 does not move or pivot or is not associated with a drawer orthe like. The main chamber 70 may be defined with the front panel 66 orother front side extending panels, a rear panel 76, a bottom panel 78,and first and second side panels 80, 82. Each of the front panel 66, therear panel 76, the bottom panel 78, and the first and second side panels80, 82 may each extend with one or more panels defining such sides. Forexample, the one or more front side 26 or front panels 66 may extendwith one front panel having the burner control valves 64 therewith andanother front panel may include a door opening 84 defined therein. Suchdoor opening 84 defined in one of the front panels 66 may include thedoor 18 pivotably coupled to the main body 20 that may be moveablebetween the open and closed positions, as previously set forth. Further,such door opening 84 may be sized and configured for a user to readilyplace cooked food on a tray or the like within the warming chamber 12.Further, some of the first and second side panels 80, 82 and some of therear panels 76 may include vent structure 86 to prevent the warmingchamber 12 from becoming too hot or over-heating, for example.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the upper chamber region 74 may beseparated by one or more inside panels, such as a front inside panel 88and a rear inside panel 90 each extending between the first and secondside panels 80, 82. Such one or more inside panels may include one ormore openings, such as vents 92, defined in the one or more insidepanels. The front and rear inside panels 88, 90 may each define an innerperiphery 94 or edge to define an opening 96 between the respectiveinner peripheries 94 of the front and rear inside panels 88, 90. In thismanner, the vents 92 defined in the one or more inside panels and theopening 96 may be employed to assist heating the lower chamber region 72with convection and radiation heat supplied by and emanating from theheating elements 16. Further, the front and rear inside panels 88, 90may be heated by the heating elements 16 to then provide radiation heatto the lower chamber region 72.

Now with reference to FIGS. 1, 8 and 9 , the lower chamber region 72 orwarming chamber 12 of the cooking station 10 may include a removablerack 100 or grate like structure. Such removable rack 100 may besuspended over first and second brackets 102, 104 secured to insidesurfaces of the main body 20, each bracket 102, 104 including a ledgefor the rack 100 to be disposed or rest upon. The rack 100 may be sizedto extend a majority of the expanse within the lower chamber region 72between the first and second side panels 80, 82 and between the rearpanel 76 and the door 18. The rack 100 may extend horizontally level andparallel with the bottom panel 78 within the warming chamber 12.Further, the rack 100 may be suspended so as to be positioned a height105 above the bottom panel 78. In another embodiment, additionalbrackets may be secured to inside surfaces of the main body 20 so thatthe rack 100 may be positioned at various heights above the bottom panel78. In one embodiment, the height 105 of the rack 100 may be positionedto be about half the height of the door opening 84. Such rack 100 may besized and configured for placing, for example, a tray or the like ofcooked food on the rack 100 for maintaining the food in a warm state.

Further, as previously set forth, the door 18 may be pivotably moveablebetween the open and closed positions. The door 18 may include an innersurface 106 and an outer surface 108 each extending to a rectangularperiphery. The outer surface 108 of the door 18 may include a doorhandle 110 positioned thereon to assist the user to manually move thedoor 18 to the open and closed positions. The door 18 may be pivotablycoupled to the main body 20 with a hinge mechanism 112. For example, thehinge mechanism 112 may include a first elongated part 114 and a secondelongated part 116, the first and second elongated parts 114, 116rotatably coupled together at end portions thereof. At the other end ofthe first elongated part 114, the first elongated part 114 may berotatably coupled to a first hinge bracket 118 secured to the main body20. At the other end of the second elongated part 116, the secondelongated part 116 may be rotatably coupled to a second hinge bracket120 along a mid end portion of the inner surface 106 of the door 18. Inone embodiment, such hinge mechanism 112 may include two hingemechanisms, one coupled adjacent to each of the opposing inner sideportions of the main body 20 and door 18. In this manner, the door 18may be pivotably coupled to the main body 20 so as to pivot about abottom edge 122 of the door 18. Further, each of the two hingemechanisms 112 may include a spring 124 associated therewith. Suchspring 124 may be coupled between a mid portion of the hinge mechanism112 and the main body 20 and, more specifically, the spring 124 mayextend between an aperture defined in the second elongated part 116 ofthe hinge mechanism 112 and a bracket aperture defined in the firsthinge bracket 118. With this arrangement, the door 18 may be springbiased toward the closed position.

Further, the inner surface 106 of the door 18 may include a protrusion126 sized and configured to cooperate with a roller catch 128 mounted tothe main body 20 within the lower chamber region 72 (see FIG. 5 ). Suchprotrusion 126 may define a diamond shaped profile and may be positionedadjacent an upper corner portion of the inner surface 106 of the door18. The protrusion 126 may cooperate with the roller catch 128 such thatthe roller catch 128 may include two inward spring biased rollers. Withthis arrangement, upon closing the door 18, the diamond shapedprotrusion 126 is pushed against the roller catch 128 between therollers such that the protrusion 126 separates the rollers and is caughtbetween the rollers in a spring biased manner. In one embodiment, theinner surface 106 of the door 18 may include two protrusions 126, one atopposite upper corner portions of the door 18 that correspond with tworoller catches 128 at opposite upper side and forward positions of thewarming chamber 12. In this manner, the door 18 may be maintained in theclosed position with both the spring 124 biasing the door 18 in theclosed position as well as being held shut with the protrusion 126 androller catch 128 arrangement.

Now with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a user may ignite the heatingelements 16 (FIG. 3 ) with the igniter switch 68 after opening the valveof, for example, a propane tank and turning one or more of the burnercontrol valves 64 to an on position. As the user is heating the cookingsurface 60 of, for example, a griddle member 14, the heating elements 16also supply convection heat and radiation heat to the warming chamber 12below the heating elements 16. Further, the heating elements 16 mayprovide heat to the front and rear inside panels 88, 90, which may thenprovide radiation heat to the lower chamber region 72 or warming chamber12. As the user completes cooking a batch of food, the user may open thedoor 18 of the warming chamber 12 and place the cooked food over therack 100 in the warming chamber 12. The user may then close the door 18of the warming chamber 12 to maintain and build the heat within thewarming chamber 12. The user may then continue to cook food on thegriddle member 14 while also maintaining the already cooked food in awarm state. In this manner, the warming chamber 12 of the outdoorcooking station 10 may be employed to maintain cooked food in a warmstate while continuing to actively cook food on the griddle member 14.

Now with reference to FIGS. 10-13 , another embodiment of an outdoorcooking station 130 with a warming chamber 132 is provided. The outdoorcooking station 130 may include similar structural features as describedin the previous embodiment including a main body 134 defined with framecomponents 136 and panels 136 sized to support heating elements (notshown) and a griddle member 140. Further, the outdoor cooking station130 may include a door 142 for accessing the warming chamber 132. Inthis embodiment, the warming chamber 132 may at least partially bedefined with a baffle 144. As in the previous embodiment, the warmingchamber 132 may be defined with a bottom panel 146, a rear panel 148,and first and second side panels 150, 152, each of which may define anexternal portion of the main body 134. Further, the warming chamber 132may also be defined with the door 142 that may be hingably opened andclosed (see FIGS. 10 and 11 ) along a bottom side 154 of the door 142 toexpose a chamber opening 160 and the warming chamber 132, the chamberopening 160 may be defined by front side edges of each of the baffle,bottom panel 146, and first and second side panels 150, 152. Along anupper side of the warming chamber 132, such upper side may be exposed tothe heating elements, similar to that described in the previousembodiment, but also may include the baffle 144 along the upper side toat least partially shield the warming chamber 132 from some gas carryingcomponents of the cooking station 130 as well as direct heat to thewarming chamber.

With reference to FIGS. 11-13 , the baffle 144 may include an upper sidepanel 162 and a front facing vent 164. In one embodiment, the upper sidepanel 162 may be integrally formed with the front facing vent 164. Theupper side panel 162 may be sized and configured to extend and at leastpartially define the upper side or ceiling of the warming chamber 132.The baffle 144 or upper side panel 162 may extend with an elongatedlength, a width and a thickness, the thickness being a thickness of, forexample, typical sheet metal. The baffle 132 may extend with a frontedge 166, a rear edge 168 and first and second edges 170, 172, the firstedge 170 being opposite the second edge 172 and the front edge 166 beingopposite the rear edge 168. The baffle 144 or upper side panel 162,adjacently along the first and second edges 170, 172 of the upper sidepanel 162, may be supported by supporting members 174 fixated to aninternal surface, such as the first and second side panels 150, 152, ofthe warming chamber 132. With the upper side panel 162 positioned overthe supporting members 174, the upper side panel 162 may extend rewardtoward rear panel 148, but only extend to about a mid-point orintermediate point rearward along the main body 134 so as to leave a gap176 between the rear edge 168 and the rear panel 148. As such, the upperside panel 162 extends with the width so as to leave the gap 176 so thatthe warming chamber 132 may be directly exposed to the heating elementspositioned above the baffle 144 and within the main body 134. The rearedge 168 of the baffle 144 may also include an upstanding portion 177extending upward along the length of the rear edge 168 of the upper sidepanel 162. Such upstanding portion 177 may extend upward to a heightsimilar to the front facing vent 164 or shorter. Further, the upstandingportion 177 may extend parallel relative to the front facing vent 164and may be oppositely positioned relative to the front facing vent suchthat the front edge 166 of the upper side panel 162 exhibits the frontfacing vent 164 and the rear edge 168 exhibits the upstanding portion177. In this manner, the upper side panel 162 and the upstanding portion177 of the baffle 144 may be sized and configured to direct heat to thewarming chamber 132 and at least partially shield and protect the gascarrying components of the outdoor cooking station 130 from heat so asto maintain a safe temperature.

The front facing vent 164 may be sized and configured to be positionedalong the front edge 166 of the upper side panel 162. The front facingvent 164 may be an elongated flat structure extending horizontallydirectly above the front edge 166 of the upper side panel 162 and mayextend upward toward a front panel 178, the front panel 178 holdingcontrol valves 179 of the outdoor cooking station 130. Further, thefront facing vent 164 may be inset inward relative to the front panel178. The front facing vent 164 may define multiple openings 180 therein,the openings 180 extending through the front facing vent 164 and sizedand configured to vent external air therethrough. The multiple openings180 may be positioned in an aligned arrangement so as to extend in asingle row horizontally along the front facing vent 164. The multipleopenings 180 may each exhibit a circular profile, such as an oval typeprofile, that may be elongated horizontally. In another embodiment, themultiple openings 180 of the front facing vent 164 may be positionedwith multiple elongated slots defined in the front facing vent, or withany other suitable profile that facilitates air flow therethrough.

The front facing vent 164 may be integrally formed with the upper sidepanel 162 so as to define a bend 182 between the upper side panel 162and the front facing vent 164. The front facing vent 164 may extend witha planar structure that may extend substantially orthogonal relative tothe upper side panel 162 of the baffle 144. In another embodiment, thefront facing vent 164 may be positioned substantially parallel relativeto the front panel 178 of the main body 134 so as to be offset relativeto the front panel 178. In another embodiment, the front facing vent 164may be positioned along the front side of the main body 134 with theupper side panel 162 extending therefrom at an acute or obtuse angle,instead of the orthogonal arrangement, previously set forth. In anotherembodiment, the front facing vent 164 may be fixed to the upper sidepanel 162 with fasteners. In another embodiment, the front facing vent164 may be fixated to the main body 134 with the fasteners such that alower edge of the front facing vent 164 extends alongside the front edge166 of the upper side panel 162. With this arrangement, the front facingvent 164 and the upper side panel 162 may be employed to protect variouscomponents of the outdoor cooking station 130 from over-heating.Further, the multiple openings 180 defined in the front facing vent 164may be sized and configured facilitate external air-flow to the gascarrying components of the cooking station, such as the tubing 181,manifold, valve components, etc., to maintain a safe temperature forsuch components. For example, the tubing 181 may extend in a space 185defined above the upper side panel 162 and between the front facing vent164 (adjacent the openings 180) and the upstanding portion 177 of thebaffle 144. As such, the baffle 144 may direct heat to the warmingchamber 182 as well as define the space 185 for maintaining a safetemperature for gas carrying components of the outdoor cooking station130.

Further, the first and second side panels 150, 152 and the rear panel148 of the warming chamber 132 may also exhibit vents 183 formed thereinto ensure that an appropriate amount of external air flow may fuel thegas flame of the heating elements. This is especially important foroutdoor cooking stations having a griddle member positioned thereon orfor when a hood is covering a top side of a given cooking station.

As depicted in FIG. 11 , the warming chamber 132 may not include aremovable shelf therein, as described in previous embodiments. Rather,the bottom panel 146 of the warming chamber 132 may facilitatesupporting food or the like that the user may desire to keep warm.Further, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 , the main body 134 mayinclude first and second side shelves 184, 186 that may be substantiallylevel with an upper edge 188 of the main body 134. Each of the first andsecond side shelves 184, 186 may include an elongated opening 190 andridge 192 arrangement to discourage users of the outdoor cooking station130 from placing objects on an upper surface of the side shelves thatmay be too close to the griddle member 140 and the hot air flowing outfrom under the griddle member 140, similar to that disclosed in commonlyowned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/364,012, filed on Mar. 25,2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.Further, the first and second side shelves 184, 186 may include varioushooks 194 and/or a magnetic strip 196 along a readily accessible surface(other than an upward facing surface) of the first and second sideshelves 184, 186 for supporting, for example, cooking utensils. Further,the door 142 may be biased to a closed position with a spring (notshown) such as that described in the previous embodiment, or the door142 may be maintained in the closed position with magnets positioned orintegrated within a top edge of the door and/or adjacent the baffle orwith any other suitable coupling structure or means for holding the door142 in the closed position.

The various structural components of the outdoor cooking stationdescribed herein and any other structural components thereof orassociated therewith may be formed of various metallic materials, suchas steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum or any other suitablematerial with high temperature ratings, such as various suitablepolymeric materials, and may be formed from known structural components,such as sheet metal at various gauges/thicknesses or other knownmetallic structures, such as tubing or the like, and may be formed andmanufactured through various known processes and techniques known in theart, such as casting, welding, rolling, bending, pressing, fastening,etc., as known by one of ordinary skill in the art.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and have been described in detail herein.Further, the structural features of any one embodiment disclosed hereinmay be combined or replaced by any one of the structural features ofanother embodiment set forth herein. However, it should be understoodthat the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular formsdisclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An outdoor cooking station for cooking food andmaintaining cooked food in a warmed state, the outdoor cooking stationcomprising: a main body with frame components and panels extending todefine a front side, a rear side, a left side, and a right side, thepanels coupled to the frame components so as to extend and define awarming chamber, the warming chamber positioned below gas flame burnerssupported by the main body and extending between the front side and therear side, the gas flame burners positioned below a griddle having aflat cooking surface configured to be associated with the main body, thewarming chamber fixedly positioned relative to the gas flame burners,the main body including a door pivotably coupled to the main body andpositioned along the front side of the main body, the door pivotablymoveable between an open position and a closed position such that, inthe open position, the door exposes an opening defined in the front sideof the main body to facilitate access to the warming chamber to placethe cooked food therein; wherein the main body comprises a baffleextending to define an upper side panel and a front facing vent, theupper side panel positioned to at least partially define an upper sideof the warming chamber, the front facing vent having openings definedtherein and positioned above the door so that the front facing ventextends upward from the upper side panel.
 2. The outdoor cooking stationof claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a baffle extending with anupper side panel and a front facing vent, the front facing ventextending perpendicular relative to the upper side panel, the frontfacing vent positioned above the door with openings defined therein andthe upper side panel partially defining the warming chamber.
 3. Theoutdoor cooking station of claim 1, wherein the door pivots adjacent abottom edge of the opening defined in the front side of the main body.4. The outdoor cooking station of claim 1, wherein the warming chambercomprises a removable rack, the removable rack suspended over oppositelypositioned ledges within the warming chamber.
 5. The outdoor cookingstation of claim 1, wherein the warming chamber is at least partiallydefined by a bottom panel, a first panel, a second panel, and a rearpanel, the first panel being positioned opposite the second panel, therear panel being positioned opposite the door in the closed position,the warming chamber being at least partially open and exposed to the gasflame burners positioned above the warming chamber.
 6. The outdoorcooking station of claim 5, wherein the warming chamber comprises one ormore inside panels extending laterally relative to the rear panel, theone or more inside panels extending to define an opening to facilitateconvection and radiation heat from the gas flame burners to heat thewarming chamber.
 7. An outdoor cooking station, comprising: a main bodywith frame components and panels extending to define a front side, arear side, a left side, and a right side, the panels coupled to theframe components so as to extend and define an upper chamber region anda lower chamber region, the upper chamber region including multiple gasflame burners supported by the main body extending between the frontside and the rear side and disposed below an upper edge of the mainbody, the upper edge extending adjacent a griddle having a flat cookingsurface configured to be associated with the main body, the lowerchamber region fixedly positioned relative to the upper chamber regionand disposed directly below the upper chamber region and the gas flameburners, the panels of the lower chamber region extending to define abottom panel, a rear panel, a first panel and a second panel, the firstpanel being positioned opposite the second panel, the rear panel beingpositioned opposite a door pivotably coupled to the main body, the doorpivotably moveable to an open position to facilitate access to the lowerchamber region; wherein the main body comprises a baffle extending todefine an upper side panel and a front facing vent, the upper side panelpositioned to at least partially define an upper side of the warmingchamber, the front facing vent having openings defined therein andpositioned above the door so that the front facing vent extends upwardfrom the upper side panel.
 8. The outdoor cooking station of claim 7,wherein the door is coupled to a hinge mechanism with a spring coupledthereto such that the door is biased to a closed position.
 9. Theoutdoor cooking station of claim 7, wherein the lower chamber regioncomprises a rack suspendably positioned between the first and secondpanels.
 10. The outdoor cooking station of claim 7, wherein the upperchamber region is separated from the lower chamber region with one ormore inside panels, the one or more inside panels defining one or morevents therein to facilitate convection and radiation heat from the gasflame burners to heat the lower chamber region.
 11. The outdoor cookingstation of claim 7, wherein the upper chamber region is separated fromthe lower chamber region with one or more inside panels, the one or moreinside panels extending to define an opening along an edge of the one ormore inside panels, the opening configured to supply heat to the lowerchamber region from the gas flame burners.